How Gray can make history

By
washingtonpost.com editors

By Bernard Ries
Washington

Fred Hiatt’s balanced analysis of where D.C. school reform stands after the mayoral primary [“School reform after Fenty,” op-ed, Sept. 19] boiled down to this: While voters were turned off by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, they haven’t turned against reform, but “school reform nonetheless lost” because presumptive mayor-to-be Vincent C. Gray “will have to think twice, and twice again, before taking on the unions that gave him important campaign support.”

This conjecture about Mr. Gray’s anticipated deference to the Washington Teachers’ Union seemed to assume that his mind-set, like that of all blinkered politicians, includes the subconscious notion of running for another term. In that case, the union in 2014 will sternly measure his performance against the promises that led to its support in 2010.

Wouldn’t it be nice, rather, to imagine Mr. Gray rejecting this knee-jerk political state of mind and instead opting to make some unfettered history?

Mr. Gray should apply his obvious talents to improving the woebegone school system without reference to the political force of any group offering him advice. One useful approach is to think about himself as a one-term mayor.

He will be, let’s face it, 68 years of age when he takes office. From a very personal perspective, I can tell him that at 72, he will have lost a couple of steps, particularly after the four-year whirlwind into which he is about to plunge.

He should tell himself (but nobody else, of course; who fears a lame duck?) that if there is to be a Gray Era, it needs to be inaugurated now, in these four crucial years, without regard to future elections or any constituents other than the children whose futures he holds in his hands.

Gray should have announced that the incompetent Chancellor Rhee and her "experiment" are over and he has accepted her resignation.

Rhee’s lack of support for Mr. Gray was evident again during the press conference. She failed to stand next to OUR next mayor or offer her support of our mayor.

Chancellor Rhee ended up as one the most “polarizing” figures in our city. She had no vision, just a narrow goal of improving test scores. Rhee’s legacy will be known for firing, threatening and intimidating principals, teachers and staff members.

Only 15 schools in the District of Columbia this year met the annual goals of No Child Left Behind, down from 54 in 2009.

She brought nothing new to the education table except those TFA’s and NEW LEADERS. Both groups were inexperienced and not qualified for urban education. We the parents have spoken and this Rhee’s experiment is over. Rhee has no future in DC and a liability to the future of our students and parents.
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Sexual Misconduct Suit Filed Against D.C. Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Former Teacher……..DC Examiner
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According to the report, a former St. HOPE official told investigators that Michelle Rhee - at the time a St. HOPE board member and now Johnson's fiancée and public schools chief in Washington, D.C. -- did "damage control" after learning of sexual misconduct allegations against Johnson.